Hallstatt : Gem of Nature

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I first saw photos of Hallstatt from our good friends who have visited and recommended the town to us. Since we were living in the hostel dorms, the incentive is to stay out more and just return back in time for bed. From north-east of Austria, the train traveled southbound to the region of Salzkarmmergut, an area located at the foot of the Alps and dotted by many large lakes.

After getting off the train, Hallstattersee (Lake Hallstatt) welcomes you with a short ferry ride across into the Hallstatt town. The towering mountain ranges act like guards overlooking a gem – the quaint town which nestles itself comfortably on the foot of the mountains and the sprawling lake.

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We rented bicycles for a few hours as it was probably the most ideal way to see more on our short day trip and we cycled along parts of the lake and up hilly cobbled-stone trails. If only the sun would shine, I thought. But even on a cloudy day, Hallstatt was still a gem. In our trip so far, we have been tramping cities and admiring architectural wonders. To be surrounded by the architectural wonders of nature, we made our way back into Linz feeling entirely recharged.